Stephanie Sipp is a local artist whose works will be on display at Reddi Arts Gallery 1037 through January. She also teaches business seminars on bringing creativity to the workplace.
WHAT’S THE PREMISE BEHIND HER WORKSHOPS?
“Within each of us is creativity. Understanding the stumbling blocks can help people be more creative. In the business community, it’s learning to be flexible with changes and being innovative.”
WHAT DOES SHE ENJOY ABOUT IT?
“Doing art is very solitary. Workshops and seminars give me the opportunity to be with other people.”
WHAT MEDIUMS DOES
SHE USE?
“I paint with acrylics and watercolors, colored pencil and oil pastels. I wanted to learn all the different mediums. It adds a little adventure to the process. I also do decorative faux painting and paint pet portraits.”
WHERE DID SHE GO
TO SCHOOL?
“I mastered in interior design at Florida State University, adding drawing skills to my color and design structure.” Sipp also attended State University of New York in Genseo.
A LITTLE BACKGROUNd
“For 10 years, I was in the interior design field before working at Reddi Arts as the supply manager. That was when I moved into the visual arts and began taking up collage. Before interior design, I was in retail.”
WHAT’S MOST CHALLENGING?
“Working on my drawing skills. Being able to put down what I want to and have it look like I want to. It’s a long way between your brain and your hand. Another challenge of the field is generating revenue. It would be easy to be a starving artist but you have to be clever.”
HOW DID SHE BREAK INTO THE FIELD?
“I left Reddi Arts in 2001. Now I’m full-time, doing my art work and workshops. I learned about creativity through my own reading and experiences. With interior design, I dealt with materials, so art is a natural place to work. I have learned to be involved in what I’m passionate about. I enjoy being outside so the natural world has been my inspiration and a place I enjoy exploring. [My creations] include flowers, leaves and bugs. Part of my interest [in art] stems from helping people preserve and appreciate the natural world.”
ANIMAL LOVER
“My first topic was a series of my dog, Sadie. It was a natural step to go into birds because I’ve been bird watching for almost a decade.”
WHAT’S MOST REWARDING?
“Having the opportunity to express myself. I’m a big believer that this is on a spiritual level, too.”
HOMETOWN
New York City.
WHAT BROUGHT
HER HERE?
“I was visiting my brother and fell in love with the area. In 1990, I moved to Jacksonville for the water and environment. I’m very outdoorsy. I like kayaking and mountain climbing. I have a passion for nature.”
STAYING ACTIVE
Sipp is a member of the Jacksonville Coalition for the Visual Arts, First Coast Chorus, the Collage Society and the National Audubon Society. “I’ve also been doing work with cancer survivors for a year. It’s called Bosom Buddies and is sponsored by the Women’s Center of Jacksonville. We’ve done card making and other non-verbal activities. It’s a way for people to relax and enjoy themselves. It is a very healing process.”
WHO INFLUENCES
HER WORK?
“Wildlife artists such as Basil Ede. He’s a bird specialist. He does an awesome job of putting the bird in its environment and showing that bird in action.”
WHO DOES SHE
ADMIRE MOST?
“Faith Ringold. She’s an African-American artist who does a wonderful job expressing her personal experiences. She’s famous for quilting her canvases. She would rather have a student that’s more interested in learning about art instead of one that is talented.”
RECENT SHOWS
Plantation Wildlife Festival, a national show in Thomasville, Ga.; Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum; First Street Gallery in Neptune Beach; and Art Works.
— by Monica Chamness